2023 Resolution: Shopping my Own Bags and SLG Collection

[Vintage Leather]

A long standing tradition in this thread is to remind ourselves of how wonderful our own collections are by showcasing them. We can see how far we have come, collection wise, and we reminded that we have all (or most of) what we need making it easier to shop our own closets.



• New theme weeks start each Sunday

• Don’t jump ahead but, if you miss a week, please do show your bags “late”.

• Show bags individually or in a group

• You do NOT have to wear the bags that week

• For added fun, show old pictures from previous years to demonstrate how you have curated it over time.

• This is completely voluntary. There is no pressure to post at any time.





So what are the showcases? In the Fall, we group our bags by makers! Feel free to show bags, small leather goods, or however it is easiest to organize!

August 13 - Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta

August 20 - Burberry, Celine

August 27 - Coach, Chanel

September 3 - Chloe, Dior

September 10 - Dooney & Bourke, Fendi

September 17 - Ferragamo, Givenchy

September 24 - Goyard, Gucci

October 1 - Hermes, Kate Spade

October 8 - Loewe, Longchamp

October 15 - Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs

October 22 - Michael Kors, Miu Miu

October 29 - Mulberry, Prada

November 5 - Proenza Schouler, Rebecca Minkoff

November 12 - Saint Laurent, Tods

November 19 - Tory Burch, Valentino

November 26 - Bags by Jewelers: Bulgari, Cartier, Tiffany Co, Van Cleef & Arpels. Alternatively, the pillboxes, compacts and other lovelies made by jewelers that fit in your bag.

December 3 - independent artisans and custom bags.

 

[cowgirlsboots]

Have the most wonderful time ever!

Thank you so much! I´m really excited for the trip!

 

[DME]

Thank you! This UV polish thing seems to be an artform of its own... I´ll learn! At least the current polish (Neo Nail Simple Express) has been surviving for 3 weeks and endless sewing projects without major chipping or breaking of my nails.

Thank you! Isn´t it strange, how behavioural patterns just remain and are even passed on?

The beauty of gel nail polish is exactly as you state: It’s super durable. But that also makes it super difficult to remove! And yes, it’s always funny to me how easily behaviors are passed down through generations. As I age, I find myself sometimes acting more and more like one of my parents (sometimes to my horror!).

 

[cowgirlsboots]

The beauty of gel nail polish is exactly as you state: It’s super durable. But that also makes it super difficult to remove! And yes, it’s always funny to me how easily behaviors are passed down through generations. As I age, I find myself sometimes acting more and more like one of my parents (sometimes to my horror!).

Now I 'm laughing! I do this too, catch myself acting exactly like my parents, even saying the same things while I totally know how wrong their ways sometimes felt to me and still do... DS usually is the one to confront me then. He didn't really meet my parents. He was too young when they passed but he always notices when I fall out of my own character and into theirs.

 

[Purses & Perfumes]

Silly sewing challenge: DH brought in a ratty sofa throw, my first thought was: coat!

Here´s what I came up with. This is the first coat I made since the early 2000s. Lately I´ve only been altering pieces.

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It´s a bit tighter on "Olga" than on my actual body.
The fabric is very loosely woven and has more snags and small defects than I´m happy with, but for now it´s ok. I´ve been thinking, that in case too many more defects will happen I can always start embroidering on it.

This is amazing! A stunning statement coat. You are very talented! I love this coat.

Have a great time in Paris.

 

[cowgirlsboots]

The beauty of gel nail polish is exactly as you state: It’s super durable. But that also makes it super difficult to remove! And yes, it’s always funny to me how easily behaviors are passed down through generations. As I age, I find myself sometimes acting more and more like one of my parents (sometimes to my horror!).

....nailpolish removed....nasty! Now to gather all my courage to redo them. Removing isn't a process I want to go through too soon again... back to normal polish? Actually I 'd do that right away right now, but my only bottle has dried out...

 

[cowgirlsboots]

Thank you all so much! This means a lot to me!




I quite enjoyed the challenge of making this, especially the piecing, even though anything that has to do with left and right turns my brain upside down and the blanket had a huge hole right in the middle, that limited my options.
The pattern came from some Burda magazine from 2017 and I changed it on the go. I know, that Burda patterns never fit me right immediately.

@Sunshine mama
The sewing turned out to be fairly easy. Maybe staystitching all the pattern lines does actually pay off... no guessing what goes where... and having sewn a lot of leather I finally seem to have learned how to ease in sleeves when gathering isn´t an option.
It´s fully lined with dark purple taffeta. I love linings... and playing with pipings.
It´s been so long since I made a whole more complex garment. Finding vintage/ second hand and simply altering is so much easier and much cheaper too. When I look at fabric and notions prizes, I almost faint and am very happy, that I have a good stash of vintage stuff like for example lining fabrics.


Thank you! This UV polish thing seems to be an artform of its own... I´ll learn! At least the current polish (Neo Nail Simple Express) has been surviving for 3 weeks and endless sewing projects without major chipping or breaking of my nails.



Thank you! Isn´t it strange, how behavioural patterns just remain and are even passed on?

Here's the inside.

 

[JenJBS]

Some arrived today. Most of them come with multiple straps but I only photographed them without the straps for my bag album. The larger tortoise one comes with Crossbody strap and a leather covered chain strap, as does the little black one and the little tortoise one. The funky palm print one come with a crossbody strap and the metallic one comes with a crossbody strap and pouch. The last is a backpack. I still have a couple more coming.Oops!

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What an amazing haul! Enjoy!

 

[cowgirlsboots]

Finally finished cleaning up my fleamarket clutch- the one with the nasty stains. (Before)


Upholstery foam brought the original colour partly back, the front remained faded and the worst stain in the back didn't budge though.
In the end I simply painted over it. (After)

 

[dcooney4]

What an amazing haul! Enjoy!

Thank you!

 

[Cookiefiend]

Some arrived today. Most of them come with multiple straps but I only photographed them without the straps for my bag album. The larger tortoise one comes with Crossbody strap and a leather covered chain strap, as does the little black one and the little tortoise one. The funky palm print one come with a crossbody strap and the metallic one comes with a crossbody strap and pouch. The last is a backpack. I still have a couple more coming.Oops!

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Wow! I especially love the second one - what fun colors!

Thank you!

I´ve never seen any etro pieces in person, only know, that they are expensive, so I´m double happy!

I finished my packing for Paris today, trying on everything and then condensing the pile into suitcase dimensions. When I was done my new to me 80ies red hardcase Samsonite dupe was only half full. Oops, what did I do wrong? Well, I quickly added the most ridiculous dress ever, a taffeta 50ies style dress made following a 50ies pattern and using 60ies taffeta and of course a massive petticoat...

God for you!!

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Finally finished cleaning up my fleamarket clutch- the one with the nasty stains. (Before)
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Upholstery foam brought the original colour partly back, the front remained faded and the worst stain in the back didn't budge though.
In the end I simply painted over it. (After)

View attachment 5832114View attachment 5832113

Holy moly - you’ve done a fantastic job of cleaning it up! Wow!
(also is that ‘Even Cowgirls Get the Blues’ in your book case? I haven’t read it in ages!)

 

[cowgirlsboots]

Wow! I especially love the second one - what fun colors!

God for you!!

Holy moly - you’ve done a fantastic job of cleaning it up! Wow!
(also is that ‘Even Cowgirls Get the Blues’ in your book case? I haven’t read it in ages!)

Yes, exactly. It's the German Version of 'Even Cowgirls... '.
DH gave it to me as a joke (a nice one!) to put in the cabinet where lots of my cowgirl boots are on display. To be honest I haven't even read it.

Thank you so much! I was nervous about the green clutch. It was so dirty... but ist so prescious to me. I wouldn't ever have expected to find a piece as old and stylish at a local fleamarket. Even the seller couldn't understand my delight on spotting it. She tried to sell me a much newer bag for the same very low price. I declined...

 

[dcooney4]

Wow! I especially love the second one - what fun colors!

God for you!!

Holy moly - you’ve done a fantastic job of cleaning it up! Wow!
(also is that ‘Even Cowgirls Get the Blues’ in your book case? I haven’t read it in ages!)

Thank you! The prices were so crazy low that I got all the styles I have been wanting to try.

 

[DME]

Now I 'm laughing! I do this too, catch myself acting exactly like my parents, even saying the same things while I totally know how wrong their ways sometimes felt to me and still do... DS usually is the one to confront me then. He didn't really meet my parents. He was too young when they passed but he always notices when I fall out of my own character and into theirs.

DH is the one who usually calls me on my crap in this regard. The only good news, if you will, is that he acts more and more like his dad as he ages and, since we both have issues with the other’s parents (I think that’s in the OED under the definition of in-law ), I guess we’re both headed down similar paths. Oof! Need to get that in check as I do not want to become my mother!

 

[DME]

Upholstery foam brought the original colour partly back, the front remained faded and the worst stain in the back didn't budge though.
In the end I simply painted over it. (After)

Random related question, since you know so much about all this stuff! Do you have any suggestions on stain removers for fabric? I have a dress with a difficult one. Tried Tide stick and some gentle rubbing, but no go, so I took it to the dry cleaner (the dress is dry clean only anyway). The stains are a bit faded, but still there, and they put two, small holes in my dress, which they did not disclose when I picked up the garment!? One stain is in the front, which is also where the two holes are, so I would really like to get rid of it. I had the dress cleaned the last time I wore it, which was about 3.5 years ago, so I have no idea what it could be. Any suggestions would be most welcome, as I love this dress and want to save it!

 

[BowieFan1971]

Yes, exactly. It's the German Version of 'Even Cowgirls... '.
DH gave it to me as a joke (a nice one!) to put in the cabinet where lots of my cowgirl boots are on display. To be honest I haven't even read it.

Thank you so much! I was nervous about the green clutch. It was so dirty... but ist so prescious to me. I wouldn't ever have expected to find a piece as old and stylish at a local fleamarket. Even the seller couldn't understand my delight on spotting it. She tried to sell me a much newer bag for the same very low price. I declined...

When you know, you know…this desk spoke to me even though it is in less than pristine condition and I had to mentally find a place for it. But a little elbow grease and $60 will be worth it!